Method, System and Apparatus for Performing Mobile Internet Protocol Deregistering

ABSTRACT

A method, a system and an apparatus for performing mobile Internet protocol deregistering, includes that the network element in the ASN to which the terminal attaches detects whether the MS terminates unconventionally, and sends the message with the MS identifier of the MS which terminates unconventionally to the ASN GW/DP. The ASN GW/DP instructs the ASN GW/FA to release the link resource with the MS and release the link resource with the HA proving service for the MS.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/106,162, filed on Apr. 18, 2008, which is a continuation ofInternational Application No. PCT/CN2006/002775, filed on Oct. 19, 2006,which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 200510112881.7,filed on Oct. 19, 2005, all of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the mobile Internet protocol (MIP) inthe communication network field, and more particularly, to a method,system and apparatus for performing MIP deregistering.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Internet workgroup develops the MIP for implementing that a terminalmay transmit information via the Internet protocol (IP) link. The MIPprovides an IP routing mechanism for the terminal. With the mechanism,the terminal supporting MIP may be connected to any link with a presetterminal identifier. The terminal supporting MIP may change the locationwithout interrupting the information transmission via links orrestarting. The following description takes a mobile station (MS) as theterminal for example.

Currently, there are two techniques for the MS to support the MIP. Oneis called the client mobile Internet protocol (CMIP) technique whichintegrates the MIP function into the MS. The MIP registering/MIPderegistering procedure of the MS are both initiated by the MS. Anothertechnique is called the proxy mobile Internet protocol (PMIP) techniquewhich sets the MIP function in a proxy mobile node of an access servicenetwork (ASN) to which the MS attaches. The MIP registering/MIPderegistering procedure of the MS are both initiated by the proxy mobilenode.

No matter the CMIP technique or the PMIP technique is used by the MS toperform the MIP registering/MIP deregistering procedure, there is a needto establish a security association between an entity with the MIPfunction and a home agent (HA) providing service for the MS. When the MSuses the CMIP technique, the entity with the MIP function is the MS.When the MS uses the PMIP technique, the entity with the MIP function isthe proxy mobile node.

When the MS using the CMIP technique performs the MIP registering/MIPderegistering procedure, the MS initiates an MIP registering request/anMIP deregistering request which carries security association informationto the HA via an access service network gateway/foreign agent (ASNGW/FA) of the ASN to which the MS attaches. The HA authenticates thesecurity association information carried by the request. If theauthentication succeeds, the HA establishes/releases link resourcebetween the HA and the MS. The link passes the ASN GW/FA of the ASN towhich the MS attaches. If the authentication fails, the HA performs nooperations and returns a request failure response to the MS via the ASNGW/FA of the ASN to which the MS attaches.

When the MS using the PMIP technique performs the MIP registering/MIPderegistering procedure, the proxy mobile node to which the MS attachesinitiates the MIP registering request/MIP deregistering request carryingthe security association information to the HA via the ASN GW/FA of theASN. The HA authenticates the security association information carriedby the request. If the authentication succeeds, the HAestablishes/releases the link resource between the HA and the proxymobile node. The link passes the ASN GW/FA of the ASN to which the MSattaches. If the authentication fails, the HA performs no operations andreturns the request failure response to the proxy mobile node via theASN GW/FA of the ASN to which the MS attaches.

The MIP deregistering procedure is applied for the MS using the CMIPtechnique or the PMIP technique and in the normal network exitprocedure. The MS performs the MIP deregistering procedure aftertransmitting the information via the link. However, with regard to theMS which uses the CMIP technique and terminates unconventionally, suchas sudden power-off or breaking away from the ASN to which the MSattaches, the MIP deregistering procedure may not be initiated becausethe MIP deregistering request may not be initiated. Therefore, only whenan MIP life cycle set for the MS by the HA decreases to 0, does the HAautomatically initiate the MIP deregistering request for the MS andrelease the link resource between the HA and the MS. If the MIP lifecycle set for the MS by the HA is long, the network side still chargesfor the MS as the link resource between the MS and the HA has not beenreleased although the MS terminates unconventionally. It is unacceptableto the MS.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the architecture of theworldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) network. The MSmay perform the MIP technique in the WiMAX network. The WiMAX networkincludes the MS, the ASN, and a connectivity server network (CSN). TheASN includes a base station (BS) to which the MS attaches, an anchorauthenticator/proxy mobile node and an ASN GW/FA. The CSN includes anAuthentication Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server and the HA. Thethick solid lines in FIG. 1 indicate interfaces defined in the WiMAX.The point line indicates logical interfaces undefined in the WiMAX. Thethin solid line indicates standard interfaces in the communicationnetwork. The broken line indicates air interfaces defined in theStandard 802.16.

When the MS performs the CMIP technique, the MS establishes the linkresource between the MS and the HA via the BS to which the MS attachesand the ASN GW/FA. When the MS performs the PMIP technique, the MSestablishes link resource between the MS and the HA via the BS to whichthe MS attaches, an anchor authenticator/proxy mobile node and the ASNGW/FA.

In the WiMAX network, with regard to the MS which uses the CMIPtechnique and terminates unconventionally, the MIP deregisteringprocedure may be performed by using an authentication routeway from theHA to the anchor authenticator/proxy mobile node via the AAA server. Thespecific procedure of the MIP deregistering is that first, when the BSto which the MS attaches has detected an unconventional termination ofthe MS, the BS sends a notification message of the unconventionaltermination carrying an MS identifier of the MS to the anchorauthenticator/proxy mobile node. Second, according to the MS identifierof the MS, the anchor authenticator/proxy mobile node which has receiveda notification message determines the HA providing service for the MS.The HA providing service for the MS corresponding to the link may beidentified because a corresponding relationship between the MSidentifier of the MS and the link resource has been preserved in theanchor authenticator/proxy mobile node when the MS performs the MIPregistration. The anchor authenticator/proxy mobile node sends a remoteauthentication dial in user service (Radius) message carrying the MSidentifier of the MS to the AAA server to which the HA attaches. The HAprovides service for the MS. Finally, the AAA server retransfers theRadius message to the HA providing service for the MS. The link resourcerelated to the MS is determined by the HA providing service for the MSaccording to the MS identifier of the MS. The HA providing service forthe MS may get the link resource corresponding to the MS because thecorresponding relationship between the MS identifier of the MS and thelink resource has been preserved in the HA providing service for the MSwhen the MS performs the MIP registration. The HA providing service forthe MS releases the link resource between the MS and the HA, i.e., theHA releases the link resource between the HA and the MS via the ASNGW/FA and the BS to which the MS attaches, so the MIP deregistering isperformed.

In the MIP deregistering procedure in the WiMAX network, there is a needto modify the content of current Radius message which is applied in thecharging and authentication for the MS, and modify the software in theAAA server and the HA for the purpose that the AAA server and the HAwhose software has been modified may support the modified Radiusmessage, then perform the MIP deregistering procedure according to themodified Radius message. The current Radius message is applied in thecharging and authentication for the MS.

In addition, with regard to the MS which uses the PMIP technique andterminates unconventionally in the WiMAX network, the MIP deregisteringprocedure may be performed by a pre-built security association betweenthe proxy mobile node and the HA. The specific procedure of the MIPderegistering procedure is that first, when the BS to which the MSattaches has detected the unconventional termination of the MS, the BSsends the notification message of the unconventional terminationcarrying the MS identifier of the MS to the anchor authenticator/proxymobile node. Second, according to the MS identifier of the MS, theanchor authenticator/proxy mobile node which has received thenotification message determines the MS and the HA providing service forthe MS, and initiates the MIP deregistering request carrying thesecurity association information of the MS to the HA providing servicefor the MS via the ASN GW/FA. Finally, the HA providing service for theMS authenticates the security association information carried by therequest. If the authentication succeeds, the HA providing service forthe MS releases the link resource between the HA and the anchorauthenticator/proxy mobile node. The link passes the ASN GW/FA. If theauthentication fails, the HA providing service for the MS performs nooperations and returns the request failure response to the anchorauthenticator/proxy mobile node via the ASN GW/FA.

The MIP deregistering procedure by the security association informationin the WiMAX network may perform the MIP deregistering procedure of theMS which uses the PMIP technique and terminates unconventionally.However the MS which uses the CMIP technique and terminatesunconventionally may not perform the MIP deregistering by the securityassociation information.

Therefore, a problem to be solved is how to enable the MS using the CMIPtechnique during the unconventional termination to perform the MIPderegistering, without need of waiting for the end of the life cycle ofthe MIP set by the MS and modifying the current Radius message.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method, system and apparatus are provided in the embodiment of thepresent invention for performing the MIP deregistering. The MS using theCMIP technique may perform the MIP deregistering during theunconventional termination without need of waiting for the end of thelife cycle of the MIP set by the HA for the MS and modifying theexisting Radius message.

Furthermore, the method of the present invention may also enable the MSusing the PMIP technique to perform the MIP deregistering during theunconventional termination.

According to above objects, the technical solution of the embodiment ofthe present invention is realized as follows.

A method for completing the MIP deregistering, setting the ASN GW/DP inthe ASN to which the terminal attaches, includes:

A, detecting, by a network element in the ASN to which the terminalattaches, the unconventional termination of the terminal and sending thenotification message of the unconventional termination carrying aterminal identifier of the terminal to the ASN GW/DP in the ASN to whichthe terminal attaches;

B, determining, by the ASN GW/DP according to a strategy, whether torelease link resource with the terminal identifier of the terminalcarried in the received notification message of the unconventionaltermination, if the ASN GW/DP according to the strategy determines torelease the link resource of the terminal, executing step C; if the ASNGW/DP strategy determines not to release the link resource of theterminal, performing no operation and ending the current procedure; and

C, instructing, by the ASN GW/DP, an access service networkgateway/foreign agent (ASN GW/FA) to release the link resource allocatedto the terminal and between the ASN GW/FA and a home agent (HA)providing service for the terminal and to release the link resourcebetween the ASN GW/FA and the terminal respectively.

A system for completing mobile Internet protocol (MIP) deregistering isprovided. The system includes an access service network gateway/decisionpoint (ASN GW/DP), an access service network gateway/foreign agent (ASNGW/FA), the network element in the ASN to which the terminal dominatedby the network element in the ASN attaches and the HA.

The ASN GW/FA is respectively connected to the ASN GW/DP and the networkelement in the ASN to which the terminal dominated by the networkelement in the ASN attaches respectively. A message interaction isperformed between the network element in the ASN to which the terminaldominated by the network element in the ASN attaches and the ASN GW/FA.The message interaction is performed between the ASN GW/FA and the HA.The system is adapted for sending the notification message of theunconventional termination which carries the terminal identifier of theterminal to the ASN GW/DP when the network element in the ASN to whichthe terminal dominated by the network element in the ASN attaches hasdetected the unconventional termination of the terminal. When the ASNGW/DP which has received the notification message determines whether torelease the link resource related to the terminal according to thepreset algorithm strategy, the ASN GW/DP instructs the ASN GW/FA torelease the link resource allocated to the terminal and between the ASNGW/FA and the HA providing service for the terminal and to release thelink resource between the ASN GW/FA and the terminal respectively.

An apparatus for completing the MIP deregistering is provided. Theapparatus at least includes the ASN GW/DP adapted to send thenotification message of the unconventional termination which carries theterminal identifier of the terminal to the ASN GW/DP in the apparatus ifan ASN network element dominating the terminal has detectedunconventional termination of the terminal and instructs the ASN GW/FAto release the link resource allocated to the terminal and between theASN GW/FA and the HA providing service for the terminal and to releasethe link resource between the ASN GW/FA and the terminal when the ASNGW/DP in the apparatus which has received the notification messagedetermines to release the link resource related to the terminalaccording to the preset algorithm strategy.

It may be seen from the above solution that the dominator of the methodprovided in the embodiment of the present invention is the ASN GW/DP.According to the MS identifier of the MS which terminatesunconventionally, the dominator instructs the ASN GW/FA to release thelink resource between the ASN GW/DP and the MS and to release the linkresource allocated to the MS and between the MS and the HA providingservice for the MS. Therefore, without need of waiting for the end ofthe life cycle of the MIP set by the HA for the MS and modifying thecontent of the existing Radius message or the software in the AAA serveror in the HA, the embodiment of the present invention enables the MSusing the CMIP technique to perform the MIP deregistering during theunconventional termination. The method provided in the embodiment of thepresent invention is also adopted for the MS using the PMIP technique toperform the MIP deregistering during the unconventional termination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the conventional architectureof the WiMAX;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for the MS using the CMIPtechnique during the unconventional termination to perform the MIPderegistering in the WiMAX network in accordance with the embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for performing theMIP deregistering by the MS during the unconventional termination inaccordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and merits of thisinvention clearer, a further detailed description for the presentinvention is given as follows in conjunction with the embodiments andaccompanying drawings.

Taking the MS using the CMIP technique for example, when the MS usingthe CMIP technique terminates unconventionally, the embodiment of thisinvention adds the ASN GW/DP existing in the prior art into the ASNnetwork to which the MS attaches to perform the MIP deregistering of theMS. The ASN GW/DP in the embodiment of the present invention may belocated in the serving ASN GW which is connected to the BS of the MS,alternatively located in the anchor authenticator (the entity in the ASNadapted for producing and distributing the anchor secret key for the MS)which serves the MS; and also alternatively located in the service flowauthorization (SFA) which is adapted for the control of service flowcontrolling plane in the WiMAX network. The SFA entity may be integratedin the ASN GW/FA or may also be set separately performing messageinteraction with the ASN GW/FA. In the ASN, the ASN GW/DP isrespectively connected to the BS, the anchor authenticator and the ASNGW/FA. The ASN GW/FA entity also includes an anchor data path functionwhich serves the terminal, and it is only described as the ASN GW/FA inthe following descriptions.

If the ASN GW/FA of the ASN includes an anchor ASN GW/FA and a servingASN GW providing service for the MS, the ASN GW/DP may be integrated inthe anchor ASN GW/FA or the serving ASN GW. The anchor ASN GW/FAmentioned here is adapted for dominating several serving ASN GW whichare connected with the HA via the anchor ASN GW/FA.

The method provided in the embodiment of the present invention is thatfirst, when the BS to which the MS attaches has detected theunconventional termination of the MS, the BS sends a notificationmessage of the unconventional termination which carries the MSidentifier of the MS to the ASN GW/DP in the ASN to which the MSattaches. Second, according to the preset algorithm strategy, the ASNGW/DP which has received the message determines whether to remove thelink between the MS and the HA providing service for the MS via the ASNGW/FA, i.e., to release the link resource related to the MS. If the ASNGW/DP determines to release the link resource of the MS, the ASN FW/DPinstructs the ASN GW/FA to release the link resource allocated to the MSand between the ASN GW/FA and the HA providing service for the MS and torelease the link resource between the ASN GW/FA and the MS respectively;if the ASN GW/DP determines not to release the link resource of the MS,the ASN FW/DP instructs the ASN GW/FA not to release the link resourcebetween the MS and the HA providing service for the MS via the ASNGW/FA, and the current procedure ends.

According to the prior art, when the MS performs the MIP registering,the ASN GW/DP stores the corresponding relationship between the MSidentifier and the link resource of the MS, and the ASN GW/DP maydetermine the link resource related to the MS according to the MSidentifier. Similarly, according to the prior art, when the MS performsthe MIP registering, the ASN GW/FA and the HA providing service for theMS in the present invention also stores the corresponding relationshipbetween the MS identifier and the link resource of the MS, and the ASNGW/FA and the HA providing service for the MS may determine the linkresource related to the MS. The link resource of the MS includes theinformation of the HA providing service for the MS, the serving ASN GWin the ASN to which the MS attaches, the information of the anchor ASNGW/FA in the ASN to which the MS attaches and the related data pathmessage and so on.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for the MS using the CMIPtechnique during the unconventional termination performing the MIPderegistering in the WiMAX network in accordance with the embodiment ofthe present invention. Suppose that the MS which uses the CMIP techniqueand terminates unconventionally is the MS1, the specific steps are asfollows.

Step 200: The BS to which the MS currently attaches detects the MS1terminates unconventionally.

The BS to which the MS currently attaches may adopt the air interfacedetection mechanism defined in the IEEE802.16d/e to detect the MS1terminates unconventionally.

Step 201: The BS to which the MS1 currently attaches sends an MS loss ofcarrier.notify message which carries the MS identifier of the MS1 to theASN GW/DP. In this step, considering the combination with the releasingprocess of the data path, the BS to which the MS1 currently attachessends a data path de-registration request message which carries thereleasing reason of the MS unconventional termination to the ASN GW/DP.

Step 202: According to the preset algorithm strategy, the ASN GW/DPwhich has received the MS loss of carrier.notify message determineswhether to release the link resource between the MS1 and the HAproviding service for the MS1. If the ASN GW/DP determines not torelease the link resource, the ASN GW/DP performs no operations, and thecurrent procedure ends; if the ASN GW/DP determines to release the linkresource, step 203 is executed.

The preset algorithm strategy may be whether the ASN GW/DP has receivedthe MIP registering request in the set time. The MIP registering requestis initiated again by the MS1 with the identifier carried by the MS lossof carrier.notify message via the BS, i.e., the BS which has detectedthe unconventional termination of the MS1. If the ASN GW/DP has receivedthe MIP registering request, the ASN GW/DP should not release the linkresource between the MS1 and the HA providing service for the MS. If theASN GW/DP does not receive the MIP registering request prior theexpiration of the set timer, the ASN GW/DP releases the link resourcebetween the MS1 and the HA providing service for the MS.

Step 203: The ASN GW/DP sends an MS session release request messagewhich carries the MS identifier of the MS1 and the releasing reason tothe ASN GW/FA. The specific releasing reason may be the terminal loss ofcarrier.

Steps 204-205: When the MS1 performs the MIP registering, thecorresponding relationship between the MS identifier and the linkresource of the MS1 is stored in the ASN GW/FA. According to the MSidentifier of the MS1, the ASN GW/FA determines the link allocated tothe MS1 and between the MS1 and the BS to which the MS1 attaches, i.e.,the link R6. The ASN GW/FA releases the link resource, and sends a datapath release request message to the BS to which the MS1 attaches. Thedata path release request message carries the MS identifier of the MS1and the related data path message related of the MS1. The related datapath message is obtained from the link resource of the MS identifier ofthe MS1 stored in the ASN GW/FA. After receiving the data path releaserequest message, according to the MS identifier of the MS1 and therelated data path message of the MS1 carried in the data path releaserequest message, the BS to which the MS1 attaches determines the linkallocated to the MS1 and between the ASN GW/FA, i.e., the link R6, andreleases the link resource.

After releasing the link resource, the BS to which the MS1 attachessends a data path release response message to the ASN GW/FA. Afterreceiving the data path release response message from the BS to whichthe MS1 attaches, the ASN GW/FA further implements three-way handshakeand replies a data path release acknowledge message to the service BS.

If the ASN GW/FA in the WiMAX network includes an anchor ASN GW/FA and aserving ASN GW providing service for the MS1, the method furtherincludes following steps. According to the MS identifier of the MS1, theserving ASN GW determines the link allocated to the MS1 and between theMS1 and the anchor ASN GW/FA, i.e., the link R4, releases the linkresource and sends a data path release request message which carries theMS identifier of the MS1 to the anchor ASN GW/FA. After receiving thedata path release request message, according to the MS identifier of theMS1, the anchor ASN GW/FA determines the link allocated to the MS1 andbetween the MS1 and the serving ASN GW, i.e., the link R4 and releasesthe link resource.

After releasing the link resource, the anchor ASN GW/FA sends a datapath release response message to the serving ASN GW. After receiving themessage, the serving ASN GW further implements three-way handshake andreplies a data path release acknowledge message to the anchor the ASNGW/FA.

The process of releasing the link R4 between the anchor ASN GW/FA andthe serving ASN GW in the above steps may also be a releasing processinitiated by the anchor ASN GW/FA.

The above steps may also be executed after releasing the link resourceR3, i.e., after steps 206-207, or step 208.

Steps 206-207: According to the MS identifier of the MS1, the ASN GW/FAdetermines the link allocated to the MS1 and between the MS1 and the HAproviding service for the MS1, i.e., the link R3, releases the linkresource and sends a registration revocation message which carries theMS identifier of the MS to the HA providing service for the MS1. Afterreceiving the registration revocation message, according to the MSidentifier of the MS1 carried in the message, the HA providing servicefor the MS1 determines the link allocated to the MS1 and between the ASNGW/FA and the MS1, i.e., the link R3 and releases the link.

After releasing the link resource, the HA providing service for the MS1sends a registration revocation acknowledgement message to the ASNGW/FA.

If the ASN GW/FA in the WiMAX network includes an anchor ASN GW/FA and aserving ASN GW, the ASN GW/DP sends an MS session release requestmessage which carries the MS identifier of the MS1 to the anchor ASNGW/FA via the serving ASN GW. After receiving the MS session releaserequest message, the anchor ASN GW/FA executes steps 206-207. The anchorASN GW/FA replies an MS session release response message to the servingASN GW after executing steps 206-207.

In steps 206-207, as the releasing reason carried in the MS sessionrelease request message of the ASN GW/DP received by the ASN GW/FA isthe terminal unconventional termination, in step 206, the ASN GW/FA mayset the I bit in the registration revocation message to inform thatthere is no need to notice the MS of the revocation event. Theregistration revocation message defined by the IETF RFC3543 is sent tothe HA.

Step 208: After receiving the data path release response message sent bythe BS to which the MS1 attaches and the registration revocationacknowledgement message sent by the HA providing service for the MS1 (Ifthe link resource between the ASN GW/FA and the BS has not beentriggered, the embodiment of the present invention need not to wait forthe data path release response message sent by the BS to which the MS1attaches), the ASN GW/FA sends the MS session release response messagewhich carries the MS identifier of the MS1 to the ASN GW/DP. The MSidentifier indicates that the link resource allocated to the MS1 andbetween the ASN GW/FA and the HA providing service for the MS1 has beencompletely released, and it may also indicate that the link resourcebetween the MS1 and the ASN GW/FA via the BS to which the MS1 attacheshas been completely released.

If the ASN GW/FA in the WiMAX network includes an anchor ASN GW/FA and aserving ASN GW, the serving ASN GW not only receives the data pathrelease response message sent by the BS to which the MS1 attaches andthe registration revocation acknowledgement message sent by the HAproviding service for the MS1 but also receives the Data path releaseresponse message sent by the anchor ASN GW/FA. The registrationrevocation acknowledgement message sent by the HA providing service forthe MS1 is forwarded to the serving ASN GW via the anchor ASN GW/FA

Step 209: The ASN GW/DP which has received the MS session releaseresponse message sends the MS loss of carrier.ack message which carriesthe MS identifier of the MS1 to the BS to which the MS1 attaches, whichindicates that the MS1 using the CMIP technique has performed the MIPderegistering during the unconventional termination. In this step,considering the combination with the releasing process of the data path,the ASN GW/DP to which the MS1 attaches sends a data pathde-registration response message which carries the MS identifier of theMS to the BS to which the MS1 attaches, which indicates that the MS1using the CMIP technique has performed the MIP deregistering during theunconventional termination.

Step 209 may also be the three-way handshake. The ASN GW/DP which hasreceived the MS session release response message sends an MS loss ofcarrier.rsp message which carries the MS identifier of the MS1 to the BSto which the MS1 attaches, which indicates that the MS1 using the CMIPtechnique performs the MIP deregistering during the unconventionaltermination. The BS to which the MS1 attaches returns an MS loss ofcarrier.ack message demonstrating that the MS loss of carrier.rspmessage has been received. Similarly in this step, considering thecombination with the release process of the data path, the BS to whichthe MS1 attaches returns a data path de-registration acknowledgementmessage after sending the data path de-registration response message tothe BS to which the MS1 attaches by the ASN GW/DP to which the MS1attaches, and the releasing process is performed.

The steps 204-205 may be executed now if they have not been executed.

If the processes in step 201 and step 209 and in step 203 and step 208in the embodiment of the present invention are associated with therelease processes of their own data path, step 204 and step 205 may beomitted in the embodiment.

The MS identifier in the embodiment of the present invention may be theIP address of the MS.

With regard to the embodiment of the present invention illuminated inthe FIG. 2, if the ASN GW/DP is located in the serving ASN GW connectedto the service BS of the MS1, step 203 and step 208 may be accompanyingthe link R4 release procedure between the serving ASN GW and the anchorASN GW/FA, i.e., the ASN GW/DP sends the data path de-registrationrequest message which carries the MS identifier of the MS1 and thereleasing reason to the ASN GW/FA in step 203. The specific releasingreason may be the terminal loss of carrier. And in step 208, the MSsession release response message sent by the ASN GW/FA to the ASN GW/DPis the data path de-registration response message of the link R4 betweenthe ASN GW/FA and the serving ASN GW. The data path de-registrationresponse message carries the MS identifier of the MS1 demonstrating thatthe link resource allocated to the MS1 and between the ASN GW/FA and theHA providing service for the MS1 has been released completely.

Similarly, the method illustrated in FIG. 2 may make the MS using thePMIP technique perform the MIP deregistering during the unconventionaltermination. The preset algorithm strategy is whether the ASN GW/DP hasreceived the MIP registering request message initiated again by the MSvia the anchor authenticator/proxy mobile node and the relatedinformation which is needed to inform the anchor authenticator/proxymobile node to delete the maintained MS1. The MIP registering requestmessage carries the IP address of the MS.

In the prior art, when the MS using the CMIP technique terminatesunconventionally, the HA is used as the dominator to release the linkresource between the MS and the ASN GW/FA when the MIP life cycle setfor the MS ends so as to perform the MIP deregistering procedure.Alternatively, the MIP deregistering request may be initiated by the BSto which the MS attaches to the anchor authenticator/proxy mobile nodeand the anchor authenticator/proxy mobile node sends a Radius messagewhich has been modified to the HA via the AAA server to which the HAattaches. Then the HA is used as the dominator to release the linkresource between the ASN GW/FA and the MS so as to perform the MIPderegistering procedure. As shown in FIG. 2, the method provided in theembodiment of the present invention takes the ASN GW/DP as the dominatorbut not the HA in the prior art. According to the MS identifier of theMS which terminates unconventionally, the dominator instructs the ASNGW/FA to release the link resource between the ASN GW/FA and the MS andto release the link resource allocated to the MS and between the MS andthe HA. Therefore, without need of waiting for the end of the life cycleof the MIP set by the HA and modifying the content of the existingRadius message or the software in the AAA server or in the HA, theembodiment of the present invention may enable the MS using the CMIPtechnique to perform the MIP deregistering during the unconventionaltermination.

In the existing solution, although the MIP deregistering procedure maybe performed by the anchor authenticator/proxy mobile node via thesecurity association preset between the MS and the HA providing servicefor the MS when the MS using the PMIP technique terminatesunconventionally. When the MS using the PMIP technique terminatesunconventionally, the MIP deregistering procedure may also be performedby the method provided in the embodiment of the present invention. Theembodiment of the present invention also provides a system forperforming the MIP deregistering when the MS terminatesunconventionally. As shown in FIG. 3, the system includes an ASN GW/DP,an ASN GW/FA, a BS dominating the MS and an HA.

The ASN GW/FA is connected to the ASN GW/DP and the BS dominating the MSrespectively. A message interaction is performed between the BSdominating the MS and the ASN GW/FA; the message interaction isperformed between the ASN GW/FA and the HA. The message interaction isadapted for sending the MS loss of carrier.notify message which carriesthe MS identifier of the MS1 to the ASN GW/DP when the BS dominating theMS has detected the unconventional termination of the MS. When the ASNGW/DP which has received the message deteimines to release the linkresource related to the MS1 according to the preset algorithm strategy,the ASN GW/DP instructs the ASN GW/FA to release the link resourcebetween the ASN GW/FA and the HA providing service for the MS1 and torelease the link resource between the ASN GW/FA and the MS1respectively.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the ASN GW/DP may be setindependently and may also be integrated in the ASN GW/FA or in the ASNGW/anchor authenticator. If the ASN GW/FA in the ASN includes an anchorASN GW/FA and a serving ASN GW providing service for the MS, the ASNGW/DP may be integrated into the anchor ASN GW/FA or into the servingASN GW (the message interaction is performed between the anchor ASNGW/FA and the serving ASN GW providing service for the MS).

The embodiment of the present invention also includes an anchorauthenticator/proxy mobile node which is connected with the ASN GW/DP.The connection is applied to instruct the anchor authenticator/proxymobile node to release the link resource allocated to the MS and betweenthe ASN GW/FA and the HA providing service for the MS and to release thelink resource between the ASN GW/FA and the MS respectively when the ASNGW/DP determines to release the link resource related to the MSaccording to the preset algorithm strategy after the MS using PMIPtechnique terminates unconventionally and is adapted to maintain therelated information of the MS of its own. Besides, the physical entityin which the anchor ASN GW/FA is located, illustrated in the embodimentof the present invention, also includes a function of anchor DPF of theanchor data path, namely the generally called binding of the Anchor andthe FA.

The embodiment of the present invention is also applied in the MIPderegistering procedure initiated by the serving ASN network to whichthe CMIP terminal attaches. Generally, in the MIP deregisteringprocedure initiated by the serving ASN network of the CMIP techniqueterminal, there is a need to inform the MS to initiate the MIPderegistering procedure because the CMIP client is in the terminal MS.If the embodiment of the present invention is used, when the serving ASNnetwork to which the CMIP terminal attaches initiates the MIPderegistering, the anchor ASN GW/FA of the terminal may be informed bythe serving ASN network, steps 206-207 in the embodiment of the presentinvention may be executed by the anchor ASN GW/FA to which the terminalattaches and the mobile IP home agent HA of the terminal.

According to the RFC 3543, the HA sets I bit in the registrationrevocation acknowledge message replied in step 207 to notify the ASNGW/FA to inform the MS of the revocation event. Then the ASN GW/FA sendsan FA broadcast message to the MS accordingly and sets the B bit in thebroadcast message to notify the MS to register again. However this FAdoes not provide the registering service. Generally speaking, the MSneeds to find other FA to register, but there is no other choice in theWiMAX, and that is the end of the MIP until the B bit is cleared in thebroadcast message sent by the FA.

The embodiment of the present invention also provides an apparatus. Theapparatus at least includes an ASN GW/DP adapted for sending an MS lossof carrier.notify message which carries the MS identifier of an MS tothe ASN GW/DP in the apparatus when the BS dominating the MS hasdetected the unconventional termination of the MS. When the ASN GW/DP inthe apparatus which has received the message determines whether torelease the link resource related to the MS according to the presetalgorithm, the ASN GW/DP instructs the ASN GW/FA to release the linkresource between the ASN GW/FA and the HA providing service for the MSand to release the link resource between the ASN GW/FA and the MS.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus may be the ASNGW/FA which may be a serving ASN GW or an anchor ASN GW/FA.

The apparatus also includes an algorithm strategy unit for storing thealgorithm strategy and sending the stored algorithm strategy to the ASNGW/DP.

The method, the system and the apparatus provided by the embodiment ofthis invention may not only be applied in the mobile communicationsystem using the MIP technique. It may also be applied in othercommunication systems using the MIP technique, e.g., a cablecommunication system. Here, the MS may be the terminal but not a mobileterminal, and the base station may be the ASN network element to whichthe terminal attaches. The embodiments of this invention are onlyexplained taking the MS and the base station for the example.

Though illustration and description of the present disclosure have beengiven with reference to embodiments thereof, it should be appreciated bypersons of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form anddetail may be made without deviation from the scope of this disclosure,which are defined by the appended claims.

1. A method for performing mobile Internet protocol (MIP) deregistering,wherein an access service network (ASN) to which a terminal attachescomprises an access service network gateway/decision point (ASN GW/DP),the method comprising: receiving, by the ASN GW/DP, a notificationmessage of an unconventional termination sent by a network element inthe ASN to which the terminal attaches and determining, by the ASNGW/DP, to release link resource of the terminal; and instructing, by theASN GW/DP, an access service network gateway/foreign agent (ASN GW/FA)to release link resource allocated to the terminal between the ASN GW/FAand a home agent (HA) providing service for the terminal and to releaselink resource between the ASN GW/FA and the terminal respectively. 2.The method according to claim 1, wherein the notification message of theunconventional termination carries a terminal identifier of theterminal, the link resource of the terminal is determined according tothe terminal identifier, and the link resource allocated to the terminalbetween the ASN GW/FA and the HA is determined according to the terminalidentifier.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the determining,by the ASN GW/DP, to release link resource of the teiminal comprises:determining whether to receive a registering request initiated by theterminal which carries the terminal identifier of the terminal via thenetwork element in the ASN to which the terminal attaches within the settime; and if the registering request is not received, determining torelease the link source of the terminal.
 4. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the link allocated to the terminal between the ASNGW/FA and the HA providing service for the terminal is a link R3.
 5. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein, if the ASN GW/FA in the ASN towhich the terminal attaches comprises an anchor ASN GW/FA and a servingASN GW/FA, the instructing the ASN GW/FA to release the link resourceallocated to the terminal between the ASN GW/FA and the HA providingservice for the terminal comprises: instructing, by the ASN GW/DP, theanchor ASN GW/FA to release link resource allocated to the terminalbetween the anchor ASN GW/FA and the HA providing service for theterminal via the serving ASN GW/FA.
 6. The method according to claim 5,wherein the link allocated to the terminal between the network elementin the ASN to which the terminal attaches and the ASN GW/FA is a linkR6.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein, if the ASN GW/FA in theASN to which the terminal attaches comprises an anchor ASN GW/FA and aserving ASN GW/FA, the process of instructing the ASN GW/FA to releasethe link resource allocated to the terminal between the ASN GW/FA andthe HA providing service for the terminal and to release the linkresource between the ASN GW/FA and the terminal respectively furthercomprises instructing the serving ASN GW/FA to release link resourceallocated to the terminal and between the serving ASN GW/FA and theanchor ASN GW/FA.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the linkallocated to the terminal between the serving ASN GW/FA and the anchorASN GW/FA is a link R4.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein theASN GW/DP is set in the ASN GW/FA, or in an ASW GW where an AnchorAuthenticator is located or in an ASN GW where an anchor SFA is located,or set independently.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein thenetwork element in the ASN to which the terminal attaches is a basestation (BS) to which the terminal attaches.
 11. The method according toclaim 10, wherein the notification message of the unconventionaltermination is sent by the BS to which the terminal attaches if the BShas detected the unconventional termination of the terminal.
 12. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is a mobile station(MS).
 13. A system for performing mobile Internet protocol (MIP)deregistering, comprising an access service network gateway/decisionpoint (ASN GW/DP), an access service network gateway/foreign agent (ASNGW/FA), a network element in an access service network (ASN) to which aterminal attaches and a home agent (HA); wherein the ASN GW/FA isrespectively connected to the ASN GW/DP and the network element in theASN to which the terminal attaches, a message interaction is performedbetween the network element in the ASN to which the terminal attachesand the ASN GW/FA, the message interaction is performed between the ASNGW/FA and the HA, wherein the network element in the ASN to which theterminal attaches is adapted for sending a notification message of anunconventional termination to the ASN GW/DP if the network element inthe ASN to which the terminal attaches has detected the unconventionaltermination of the terminal; and; wherein the ASN GW/DP is adapted forreceiving the notification message, determining to release link resourceof the terminal, and instructing the ASN GW/FA to release link resourceallocated to the terminal between the ASN GW/FA and the HA providingservice for the terminal and to release link resource between the ASNGW/FA and the terminal respectively.
 14. The system according to claim13, wherein the ASN GW/DP is set in the ASN GW/FA or in an ASN GW/AnchorAuthenticator, or set independently.
 15. The system according to claim14, wherein the system comprises an anchor authenticator/proxy mobilenode connected to the ASN GW/DP, the ASN GW/DP is adapted to instructthe anchor authenticator/proxy mobile node to release the link resourceallocated to the terminal between the ASN GW/FA and the HA providingservice for the terminal and to release the link resource between theASN GW/FA and the terminal respectively.
 16. An apparatus for performingmobile Internet protocol (MIP) deregistering, comprising an accessservice network gateway/decision point (ASN GW/DP) adapted to receive anotification message of an unconventional termination sent by a networkelement in the ASN to which a terminal attaches, determine to releaselink resource of the terminal and instruct an access service networkgateway/foreign agent (ASN GW/FA) to release link resource allocated tothe terminal between the ASN GW/FA and a home agent (HA) providingservice for the terminal and to release link resource between the ASNGW/FA and the terminal.
 17. The apparatus according to the claim 16,wherein the apparatus is set in the ASN GW/FA or in an ASW GW where anAnchor Authenticator is located or in an ASN GW where an anchor SFA islocated, or set independently.
 18. The apparatus according to the claim16, wherein if the ASN GW/FA in the ASN to which the terminal attachescomprises an anchor ASN GW/FA and a serving ASN GW/FA, the ASN GW/DP isfurther adapted to instruct the serving ASN GW/FA to release linkresource allocated to the terminal between the serving ASN GW/FA and theanchor ASN GW/FA.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein thenotification message of the unconventional termination carries aterminal identifier of the terminal, the link resource of the terminalis determined according to the terminal identifier, and the linkresource allocated to the terminal between the ASN GW/FA and the HA isdetermined according to the terminal identifier.
 20. The apparatusaccording to claim 16, wherein the network element in the ASN to whichthe terminal attaches is a base station (BS) to which the MS attachesand the notification message of an unconventional termination is sent bythe BS to which the MS attaches if the BS has detected theunconventional termination of the terminal.